To be honest, I have been slowly removing that clump of broms in the crook of that oak tree. They were so crowded they looked terrible. So I only left a couple of small ones last year, and here they are showing their nice color and form again. Don't have a clue where the coral Barleria plant came from but must have been a bird . . . I put the broms that were removed from that tree on the ground and they have completely changed color, oddly enough.

If it wasn't pouring, I'd go out and take pictures of them so you can see the difference. We've had no significant rain in a week, but are making up for it today. My Cuban frogs will be heading for the high ground tonight, too.

It's looked like 8:30pm here since about 5:30. Dark, raining but not too hard at least. Everyone around us is getting slammed tho. We've had our share and I wouldn't mind missing a few days.
I was wondering how that Barleria got there too. I like it there. Mine was blooming a while back, but haven't noticed anything lately.

Here's a Hoya that's bloomed for the first time for me. Got it as a tiny cutting last year so was surprised to see a bloom this early.



Globba ginger Pristina Pink. The undersides of the leaves are a dark burgundy.



Globba ginger "Mauve" Leaves are a more mossy green.

mj, you have such interesting plants!! Which hoya is that beauty, do the blooms have any fragrance? Those Globba Gingers are new to me, never heard of them or seen them but I sure like those flowers, very pretty!

Wow, those are pretty! Globbas new to me too! Btw, mj, that Globba 'Mauve' isn't pictured in the database yet...First pic gets 2 's! Go grab 'em, girl!

Good thinking, Tara! We want our plant database to be the best! I love seeing actual user photos as opposed to going to something like Google Images. It can be useful at times, but knowing you have the correct identification and seeing how someone else grows it in their garden is so helpful!

completely, Melanie!

And congrats headed your way! The new moderator of BBB!!!!

Aw, shucks. Thanks, I'm glad to be there!

Lin the Hoya is H. Hoya pachyclada. It's a little different in that it has VERY succulent stems. Blooms are a nice big size. Not as big as H. latifolia but close. Very light scent. The plant is really pretty small to be blooming, so it was a nice surprise.

I just discovered the Globba's last year. I've got white and yellow also. Some in pots and the white is in the ground. I'll be putting more in the ground as they get some size to them, but wanted to keep them in pots last winter till I saw how they behave coming out of dormancy.

MJ, are those the Globbas I sent you in trade? If so, I'm glad to see them doing so well and blooming for you!

Ron yes they are ! The Pristina Pink is still kinda small so was surprised to see it bloom. But the Mauve has almost caught up to my Yellow.

I shared this on the bee and other friends thread, but I wanted to tell my other Floridians about this, too. A few days ago, I saw a dragonfly with its abdomen sticking straight up in the air. I was like, "Is it doing yoga?" Janet, our resident bug expert, helped me with some links explaining the behavior. Dragonflies do this thing where they make an "obelisk" pose, aiming their bodies almost straight up. This pose means less of the surface area of their body is being hit by the sun's rays and is a method of cooling off. I've been seeing it a lot lately and I thought maybe you guys might want to take a look around and see it, too. Also, can I just add that you know it's hot when the insects are trying to cool off! Here's one from today.

That is just so neat, Mellie. Mother Nature never ceases to amaze me.

I thought it was pretty awesome, too Ken. Those are the kinds of things I like sharing with folks when I volunteer out at MOSI. So many people don't know much about nature anymore and I'm trying to fix that a little at a time!

Melanie, that is so cool! We have lots of Dragonflies and some Mayflies around here but I've never, ever seen one in that "yoga" position! Really neat!

We'll all be looking for those "erectile" dragonflies.

It's so danged hot I'm surprised I have anything blooming right now but there are a few things still in flower.

Firespike goes crazy at this time of year and my little Dwarf Allamanda has been blooming it's head off.


Pagoda Flower (Clerodendrum) are fading at this time of year


Lantana Trailing Lavender ................. Iochroma Royal Queen Purple


I bought this Adenium from Home Depot on July 1st, potted it up in a chunky medium and I noticed buds today


I have some Ornamental Sweet Potato Vine (Ipomoea batatas 'Tricolor') that's getting out of control and it's also reverting from the pretty variegated foliage to solid green. At least I think that's what I see trailing out of that bed. Tomorrow I might get out there and yank it out to be sure. There wasn't any other Ipomoea planted in that spot so I'm assuming it is the Tricolor reverting although the leaves on the green vine sure seem a lot larger than the Tricolor leaves ever got.

Finally photos of my garden collection:





Den no ID orchid





Dying roses and Crepe Myrtle rescued from my own back garden and now growing in a pot:




First bloom of my plumeria grown from seed, a seedling of 'Maui's Beauty' plumeria.




My Starwhite plumeria in bloom:



My Vinca's. I love Vinca's they are reliable bloomer. You just have to pull the volunteers if they grow places you don't want them to.

All nice, Gigi.

Mom said there was a frog on the top of my rain barrel. I went to take a look and there it was, bathing in the downspout. It was a Cuban Frog and you know how I feel about invasive species. So don't ask what happened after the picture.